what is the difference between Beneficiary and Contingent Beneficiary?

A beneficiary is just that a person who benefits if a circumstance such as a death occurs. The contingent beneficery is the person who benefits if the primary is unable to do so for a reason such as their own death.

A Contingent Beneficiary is the individual who is entitled to receive the benefits of an insurance policy if the primary beneficiary dies.

Contingent means based upon a certain circumstance. It might mean in the event the First beneficiary is no longer living, although the word secondary beneficiary is usually used for that.

Contingent beneficiaries get nothing unless no primary beneficiaries can collect (death, murdered by beneficiary, etc.). There are ways to pass a beneficiary's share to their decedents, in case they have died, by specifying "per stirpes" for the beneficiary. For example I list both my sister per stirpes and my nieces as primary beneficiaries (along with my brothers), so my nieces will get a bigger share if my sister is no longer alive. If you do not know how to word everything, ask your agent.

A contingent beneficiary is basically a back-up. If your beneficiary dies before or with you, you have the contingent beneficiary.

CJ...actually, secondary beneficiary is used when there are two or more beneficiaries to SPLIT the benefits. For example, two kids to equally split it.

Beneficiary is first in line to get the benefits if something happens to you and contingent get benefits if something happens to the beneficiary.